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UNTTED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

FRANCIS A. CANNON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW-YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN PHILLIPS, OF SAME PLACE.

SMOOTI-IING AND POLISI-IING-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,018, dated April 20, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it .known that I, FRANCIS A. CANNON, of the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Smoothing and Polishing Irons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a smoothing iron of any of the ordinary shapes or forms, with a smooth surface'or face on one side, and two or more vacant spaces or receptacles for rollers, on the other side, which receptacles are occupied by cylindrical metallic rollers revolving on their own axis, or in any other manner to avoid friction; connected with l the handle is a catch for the purpose of holding the iron in its desired position.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the iron, showing the principal parts. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the iron and handle. Fig. 3 is a view of the rear end with the handle removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the iron reversed for heating.

A in each figure represents the body of the iron.

a a are the notches for the reception of the catch D.

B B are the rollers or cylinders varying in size according to the size of the iron and projecting beyond the surface from lg to4 gths of an inch or thereabout.

C is the frame of the handle.

D is the catch to hold the iron in position.

F is a slot in the frame in which the catch acts.

Gr G are pivots upon which the iron revolves in its frame or handle. l

The object I have in view in this mode of construction is to obtain iirst', a means of imparting a high and beautiful polish to linen and other fabrics with the least possible friction; second, to perform the operation of smoothing and ironing in a superior manner at a much less expenditure of muscular power and in a far shorter time than with any of the irons now or heretofore in use;

third, to preserve the surface to be placed in contact with the linen or other fabric always in a bright and perfect condition by avoiding an immediate contact with the fire, in heating the smooth or plane surface;

fourth, to retain the heat longer than theusual time; fth, to retain in connect-ion with the cylinders the ordinary smooth surface, to be employed as other irons are used.

This iron is heated on its reverse side or Smooth surface, it being revolved in' its frame or handle, for the purpose with the` rollers uppermost. l/Vhen properly charged with heat, the iron is reversed by placing the linger on D, when the catch is lifted, it then turns into the position of Fig. l and the catch drops into the notch a, holding it firmly in its place.

What I claim as my invention and desire to Secure by Letters Patent is- The application and arrangement of rollers or cylinders to smoothing and polishing irons as described, by which a high degree of polish is imparted to linen and other fabrics with the least expenditure of muscular power.

FRANCIS A. CANNON.

Vitnesses A. S. VAN DUZER, W. EDMoNDs. 

